White Coat, Black Art

Healthcare institutions rarely brag, but Toronto’s University Health Network is proudly advertising itself as the world’s #2 hospital and “Canada’s Hospital.” It reflects a broader push as hospitals increasingly rely on donor funding for staff, equipment, and infrastructure.

Canadians in some provinces can wait years for a new hip or knee. In Germany, it can take just weeks. Transplanted Canadian Elizabeth Sandomeer had each of her knees replaced in under three months. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sebastian Braun says there are many reasons why Germany can get those surgeries done faster. One of the biggest drivers is the competition between hospitals for funding, something that Braun says is lacking in Canada's health-care system.

It may seem counterintuitive, but hospital ERs can be risky for elderly patients, as the chaotic environment can quickly lead to delirium and decline. An innovative geriatric multidisciplinary ER team at St. Mary's Hospital in Montreal is getting elderly patients discharged safely and quickly, preventing harm and reducing hospital admissions.

“Pistol” Pete Pearson took ‘magic mushrooms’ illegally to ease his end-of-life distress, and is angry that Health Canada denied him access through the Special Access Program. Meanwhile, UHN psychiatrist and leading psilocybin researcher Dr. Joshua Rosenblat suggests its efficacy may stem from enhanced neuroplasticity—and it might be available by prescription sooner than later.

"Pistol" Pete Pearson underwent psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to ease his end-of-life distress, and calls it a game-changer. Rather than cursing the things he can no longer do, he's grateful for the time he has left. Psilocybin is still illegal in Canada, but Health Canada has invested millions into research by UHN psychiatrist Dr. Joshua Rosenblat. He advises against using psilocybin illegally, like Pete did – but says legalization may be just around the corner.

Leanna Scott has always gone out of her way to help others — which is why she decided to become a surrogate. She carried a child for a couple from the Netherlands who chose Canada because of its altruistic surrogacy laws and strong health-care system. As demand grows, Canadian surrogates like Leanna are increasingly sought after by intended parents both here and abroad. Pamela White, a Canadian researcher who teaches law at the University of Kent, says it's time Canada has a discussion around its surrogacy laws.

Lung cancer is Canada’s deadliest cancer—and about one in four cases now occur in people who have never smoked. Toronto father Winhan Wong knows this firsthand: a lingering cough nine years ago led to a stage-four diagnosis. Thoracic surgeon Dr. Christian Finley explains why lung cancer is rising among never-smokers, the stigma around diagnosis, and how a national action plan aims to save lives.

Growing up, Mykayla Whitmarsh was told to make eye contact, sit still and laugh at friends’ jokes. Now 24, she’s part of a growing group of young women diagnosed in adulthood with “AuDHD” – autism and ADHD. After years of struggling, she advocated for herself, was diagnosed at 22, and now shares her daily life @autisticayla on TikTok.

William Hume knew he was dying, which is why he applied and was approved for medical assistance in dying (MAID). But in his final days, his daughter Stacey says her dad wasn't able to receive MAID at an Edmonton hospital run by a Catholic health-care provider and had to transfer to another facility. He died before that could happen. Dr. Andrea Letourneau, a critical care specialist and MAID provider, says forced transfers are a terrible practice that forces patients to go through extra hoops in order to receive the death they want.

Millions of Canadians are without a family doctor or nurse practitioner in Canada. But Denmark, a country where 98 per cent of its population is attached to a primary care provider, could have some lessons for us. We travelled to the Scandinavian country to see how the Danish system works for patients and doctors, and the differences are startling.

At 24, Kyle Brymer went to the ER with altered speech, facial drooping, severe headaches and confusion. The doctor blamed Kyle’s symptoms on his post-grad academic workload and even his partner Kirstie. In a few days, he went back to the ER – and this time, the stroke was unmistakable. Strokes in young people are on the rise in Canada, with one in 20 affecting someone under the age of 45. And even a decade later, Kyle says he’s still "not back to normal."

Overwhelmed by hot flashes, brain fog, and a frozen shoulder, Aidan Brame turned to a private clinic when the public system couldn’t help. Her experience highlights why more Canadians are paying for menopause care, and what it reveals about gaps in the health system.

One stretcher. More than 80 patients waiting. Paramedics arriving with patients while admitted patients await transfer. That was the reality for registered nurse Jayme Hack during a recent shift at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. Along with colleague Valerie Evanishen, she offers a frontline view of the relentless pressure inside one of Alberta’s busiest emergency rooms. ER physician and former politician Dr. Raj Sherman puts it bluntly: ERs are the canary in the coal mine and “the canary is dead.” He says we can, and should, do better when it comes to emergency medicine. This is an extended version of the radio broadcast.

Dr. Michael Antil left North Carolina in 2023 with his wife and kids, driven out by an increasingly conservative political climate and COVID-era hostility toward doctors. Now a family physician to over 2,000 patients in Toronto, he’s repeatedly been denied permanent residency, lost in a maze of paperwork and immigration red tape. Canada needs doctors—so why is this so hard?

You may think you're burned out at work, or with life in general. But what does burnout actually mean? Christina Maslach, Professor Emerita of psychology at UC Berkeley, was one of the first researchers in the world to study burnout, and co-created the Maslach Burnout Inventory over 40 years ago, a diagnostic tool that's still widely used today. She explains the distinct phases of burnout, why it's so pervasive in healthcare, and why a spa weekend isn't the cure.

Cardiologist, scientist and bestselling author Dr. Eric Topol's latest book "Super Agers" distills decades of research on how to make us healthier for longer. Topol says that humanity is on the cusp of developing treatments to help tame cancer, dementia and other chronic diseases… just as political forces in the U.S. are shutting down that research.

This holiday season, many of us will be taking to the skies to visit family or escape to warmer climes. So we’re sharing a recent episode of our sister podcast, The Dose, which asks: “What do I need to know about in-flight medical emergencies?” Dr. Vincent Poirier, associate professor of emergency and aviation medicine at McGill University, senior medical advisor for Air Canada and medical consultant for Air Transat, explains what happens when a medical emergency occurs on board and how passengers can help prevent them.

B.C. emergency room physician Dr. Kaitlin Stockton took the rare step of suing her regional health authority, alleging her job was threatened after she and other doctors warned patients about unsafe, overcrowded ER conditions. The lawsuit has since been resolved to both sides’ mutual satisfaction. Dr. Stockton hopes her experience will empower healthcare workers and patients to speak up about patient safety.

Quebec family doctors have struck a tentative agreement with the province, but Dr. Marina Lagodich has made up her mind. When the CAQ government rushed through their healthcare overhaul, Bill 2, in late October, it was the last straw. December 17 will be her last day practicing as a Quebec doctor. Across the province, doctors have criticized the bill, saying it encourages “fast food medicine.” Health policy expert Steven Lewis says although the Quebec government’s means are extreme, it’s hard to argue with its aims: to solve the “disgraceful” primary care crisis.

Ottawa family physician Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth faced a long wait for surgery after post-menopausal bleeding, and has seen her patients endure the same. Dr. Nick Leyland, president-elect of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, explains that gynecologists have limited operating room access, fewer perform surgery, and ovaries are valued less than testicles in the surgery hierarchy. Also: what’s being done to improve care for women nationwide.